Huge moorland blaze now treated as arson

Investigations into reports of bonfire before alarm raised

A blaze on Saddleworth Moor which fire crews have been fighting for more than a week is being treated as arson.

Police say witnesses reported people were lighting a bonfire on the moorland above Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, on the early evening of Sunday June 24 – about 50 minutes before the first emergency call to raise the alarm.

The fire on land at Buckton Vale, east of Manchester, led two days later to the evacuation of dozens of homes in the village of Carrbrook as flames threatened to engulf properties.

It continued to spread as fire crews from across the country, with the assistance of the army, successfully battled to keep the area safe.

Yesterday, with the fire still burning though under control, Greater Manchester Police said the bonfire sighting was being pursued as a possible line of inquiry.

Chief Superintendent Neil Evans said: “The moorland fire is now being investigated as arson following information from local witnesses and initial inquiries.

“The scale of this fire is exceptional and we are treating it with the utmost seriousness.

“That said, we are under no illusion that solid evidence as to where the fire

The scale of this fire is exceptional and we are treating it with the utmost seriousness. GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE

started and what was the cause will not be easy to establish.”

The bonfire sighting was at about 7.30pm on June 24, with the fire service called out at 8.19pm.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) interim chief officer Dawn Docx said: “Specialist fire investigation officers are working closely with Greater Manchester Police to investigate the suspected arson in the moorlands in Tameside.

“Investigations are currently ongoing with a multi-agency approach to find the source of the ignition.

“There is an area of interest that specialist officers are inspecting.

“Firefighters are working in extremely difficult and challenging circumstances in Tameside and I can’t praise crews enough – they’ve done a fantastic job and are continuing to work hard to put out the multiple fires across the moorlands.

“I would like to urge the public to be really careful with barbecues, discarded cigarettes and glass bottles in the countryside.

“Fires in the moorlands can spread rapidly so it’s important that we take extra care.”

Soldiers drafted in to help Greater Manchester firefighters tackle the Saddleworth Moor blaze will continue their temporary roles until the end of the week.

Around 100 troops from the Royal Regiment of Scotland have been involved in the operation in Tameside, including digging trenches in an effort to stop the moorland fires spreading.

Yesterday there were 45 firefighters on the scene who were using specialist equipment and vehicles to extinguish the remaining pockets of fire.

Picture: PA. A moorland blaze up in the Pennines is now being treated as deliberate, say police.